Compare towns
Andover vs Lowell vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Lowell has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Andover | Lowell | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
118,368Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Chester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lowell and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Andover and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Lowell and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Lowell and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,499 44% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #255 of 282 in MA | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Lowell | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | Lowell High | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.